Abstract/Details

The Rankin Inlet ceramics project: A study in development and influence

Neale, Stacey.   Concordia University (Canada) ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  1997. MQ26025.

Abstract (summary)

In 1962, the North Rankin Nickel Mine Ltd. closed its operations in Rankin Inlet, a community on the west coast of Hudson Bay in the Northwest Territories. This community was established by the mining company and attracted a large Inuit population with its promise of wage employment. When this employment ceased, the Canadian government initiated an arts and crafts program to assist the Inuit. Included in this program was an experiment in pottery-making, which became known as the Rankin Inlet Ceramics Project.

Begun in 1963, the project was guided by four arts and crafts officers, Claude Grenier (1963-1970), Bob Billyard (1970-1973), Michael Kusugak (1973-1975) and Ashok Shah, until its collapse in 1977. Funding for the project was initially provided by the Canadian government and later by the Government of the Northwest Territories. The federal government was very supportive of this initiative and was continually making recommendations to improve the project. The territorial government, however, was often indifferent to the project and eventually cut its funding. It is the aim of this thesis to document the project and to examine the role these patrons played in its development. Also, an attempt will be made to demonstrate how their recommendations affected the appearance of the work. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the current revival of ceramic art in Rankin Inlet. This new project will be considered in light of the original one and in the context of recent trends in Inuit art.

Indexing (details)


Subject
Canadian history
Classification
0334: Canadian history
Identifier / keyword
Communication and the arts; Social sciences; Inuit; Northwest Territories
Title
The Rankin Inlet ceramics project: A study in development and influence
Author
Neale, Stacey
Number of pages
205
Degree date
1997
School code
0228
Source
MAI 36/04M, Masters Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
ISBN
978-0-612-26025-2
Advisor
Acland, Joan
University/institution
Concordia University (Canada)
University location
Canada -- Quebec, CA
Degree
M.A.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
MQ26025
ProQuest document ID
304376850
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/docview/304376850/abstract